FanFest Wrapup Reports

FanFest Wrapup Reports

I just got back from E3 and need to take a long breather. However, I didn't want to sign off without first pointing you to this post and this post at HBO about the FanFest, which sum up the evening quite nicely. Thanks Deanero and vector40! Also thanks to Freewill for helping organize things, to mnemesis for chauffeuring us around town, to Deanero for being a gracious host at the Marty Army practice session, and to everyone that showed up for the event, especially the teams that competed in the tournament. We had a blast!

Two New Themes

Two New Themes

A big thanks to Stosh and Jonah Friedman for the two latest themes available here at the 7th Column.Stosh created one called Master Chief, a blue and brushed metal theme using images of the big green guy.The second theme, "tru7h," is based on Jonah's interpretation of the Marathon's Story Page -a tribute to Hamish Sinclair if you will.

New Bungie.net Poll

New Bungie.net Poll

Wow, 195 of you, 83% of the respondents in our poll, said you want a short-sleeved version of the Seventh Column T-shirt available in the Bungie Store. We'll see what we can do. In the meantime there's a new poll up on Bungie.net, this time in response to some in-fighting I've seen between state-wide chapters (that won't be named). Let us know which organizational approach you favor.

Halo Soundtrack Preorders!

Halo Soundtrack Preorders!

An official announcement about the Halo Soundtrack just went out to the world. You can read about it here. But more importantly, you can preorder your copy of the Halo Soundtrack today, directly from the Bungie Store! What are you waiting for?

Halo Soundtrack & Rolling Stone

Halo Soundtrack & Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone magazine is preparing a special E3 issue that will hit the stands next week. One of the awards they're giving out is for gaming soundtracks. We just got word that the editors of Rolling Stone have given Halo the top honor in this category, naming it the video game with the "Best Original Soundtrack." Way to go Marty!

Now about that soundtrack ... I have a feeling you'll be getting an update pretty darn soon.

New Theme: Hunters

Halo Shirt Explanation

Halo Shirt Explanation

A couple people have asked this -- that Halo shirt for sale in the Bungie Store is a reprint on the Halo shirt we had at the launch party. This shirt, however, is on a new brand of T-shirt that's a much cooler color, and we've redone the art. The photo you see in the store is an unmodified photo of an original shirt, no Photoshop magic there.

Short-sleeved 7th Column Shirt?

Short-sleeved 7th Column Shirt?

Churchhill18 pointed out that it's too damn hot for a long-sleeved Seventh Column shirt where he lives, so I've posted a new poll to the front Bungie.net page asking how many of you would like to see a short-sleeved version added to the Bungie Store.

Bungie Store 7th Column Discount

Bungie Store 7th Column Discount

If you look over in your chapter's navigation bar when you're visiting the Seventh Column you'll see a new link -- Store Discount. Read on to find how you can get a whopping 40% off at the Bungie Store! As they say, membership has its privileges.

Are You Finding The Guardian?

Are You Finding The Guardian?

Klawria writes: "OK here it is, since there are so many rumors going around about the existance of "The Guardian", we at HALO National are putting a bounty on its head! Here is the deal....You will need to provide proof that the guardian does exist (simple a video or screenshot that "you have just been killed by The Guradians" a video is preferred) , VHS Video, MPG file, AVI file, whatever, just make sure the words appear on the screen that you have just been killed by THE GUARDIAN. Next provide the reason why or how the guardian name appears when you are killed, is it random? do certain things need to happen? lay out your reasoning. The player with the best proof that THE GUARDIAN does exist gets a $100 gift certificate to EBWORLD.com courtesy of HALONational.com. Send me your link to the video or send me a VHS tape (E-mail me at Klawria@halonational.com to give you the address to mail video) and the reasoning why THE GUARDIAN appears. Simply stated, if you have the best proof of existance then you win!

Remember, you need the following:

Proof of existance(video file, CD or VHS)Real Proof of how you get killed by "The Guardian"

Halo Demo Arrives

Halo Demo Arrives

Today, subscribers to Official Xbox Magazine got an extra bit of lovin' on their game disk. The official Halo demo. Essentially the demo lets you or you and a friend play through the level Silent Cartographer on normal difficulty. But you've played that level a million times, you say? Yes, but it never ended like this...

More Halo Goodness

More Halo Goodness

There's some good new stuff on the site this week. Be sure you check out the Marathon Connection article that Matt and Mordia put together with some screenshot goodness from candyman. Speaking of screens, you asked for 'em you got 'em. Irregular sized "Cinematic Display" wallpaper and wallpaper for Dual-monitor setups now available!

New Feature: Announcements

A number of members of the Chapter Founders group have been clamoring for top stories for their chapters. We've heard their cries and implemented something we think is even cooler--announcements.

If you're not a staff member you'll see a new option when you submit news that asks you to classify your news as a statement or a memoranda. Staff members, however, have two additional options: Declarations and Directives. All three of these new options, including memos, will show up with fancy new icons provided by Candyman. In addition, Declarations and Directives will show up above the news, in a section called Announcements.

Bungie Store Opening Soon™

Bungie Store Opening Soon™

Most of you long time Bungie fans remember a little chop shop we used to operate called The Bungie Store. The Store has been down for quite some time now, but we haven't. Instead we partnered with eCompanyStore and together worked up a newfangled version of the site, full of Bungie and Halo branded goodies (and a fun surprise). This new Bungie Store has just been handed over to our crack team of beta testers, and as soon as they give us the green light the store will go live. Stay tuned!

New Chapter Approval

New Chapter Approval

I just approved a busload of new chapters, so if you had one waiting in the queue go check out the Seventh Column page. A lot of these submissions seem like they're already-established groups, but remember that if you're thinking of joining a chapter search your area for active ones before founding your own.

New This Week

New This Week

Have we got some eye candy for you this week! After a long hiatus, Halo screenshots are back. Twelve new glorious shots taken by our own Mordia.Also we've got Hunters and guns in the concept art section. Good stuff.

Matt, The Law, and a New Poll

Matt, The Law, and a New Poll

Matt has finally returned from his week of jury duty. He was out of reach so we weren't able to convey the almost unanimous advice you all voted for in the poll--though I'm certain if he'd refused to wear pants the outcome of the trial would have been much different. Anyway, now that things are getting back to normal we've posted a new poll, again over on the left on the Bungie.net main page.

Site Problems

Site Problems

We had some problems on the site yesterday that we're still trying to sort out. Fortunately everything seems back to normal and no data was harmed in the process. In addition, the email address we posted to our theme building tutorial was bouncing this weekend. It should be working soon, but in the meantime if you're trying to submit a theme go ahead and send it to 7themes at microsoft.com instead of at bungie.com. Sorry for the trouble.